News from the Library of Congress

May 31, 2002

Classification Web Now Available

New Software on Display at American Library Association Conference June 15-18

Classification Web, the first Web-based cataloging and reference product from the Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS) of the Library of Congress, has just been released.

Classification Web lets users access, search and browse all Library of Congress Classification (LCC) Schedules and Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). It speeds the process of verifying and assigning classification numbers to library materials by providing up-to-date access through any Web connection. The product also provides automatic calculation of classification table numbers, permanent personal or institutional notes file, the ability to link to a local Web online public access catalog (OPAC) for many major vendor systems, and links to a pre-set list of institutional OPACs.

After a successful pilot test in 2001, which drew 6,978 users worldwide and often more than 400 users daily, CDS fine-tuned Classification Web based on user response to the test.

"The response to the pilot test was fantastic, not only in level of interest, but also in enthusiasm for the product," said Cheryl C. Cook, Classification Web product manager at CDS. "Class Web will meet a real need in the library community," she said. "Having both Library of Congress Classification and Subject Headings in one product makes it easy to see the relationships between the two schemas and find the precise information you need."

Pilot tester Shelby E. Harken of the University of North Dakota reported that "Classification Web is easy for copy and original catalogers to use, and it will prompt more consistent assignment of subject and class numbers." Ms. Harken also said that the product's "speed and correlations help to quicken the decision-making process."

Library of Congress Director for Cataloging Beacher Wiggins said that "Classification Web will be of keen interest to any library that classifies its collection according to the Library of Congress Classification system, and its importance to the cataloging community will continue to grow now that the Web is becoming integral to cataloging activities."

As part of the 100th anniversary celebration of CDS, Classification Web will be on display at the Library of Congress booth (#1137) at the Georgia World Congress Center during the annual conference of the American Library Association, June 15-18. Special presentations on the product will be given daily at 12:30 p.m.

In addition, a new video on the evolution of CDS will premiere at the Library of Congress booth at the ALA Conference, tracing the history of cataloging from cards to book form catalogs and microfiche to online databases to the Web.